Book list- General Studies for Prelims and Mains
Here is a list of books I referred to during my CSE preparation in 2014
Hi! Here is a list of the books I referred to for CSP 2014 and CSM 2014 for the General Studies papers. Please note that you should assess your own level of understanding and then decide on whether or not this list works for you too.
NEWSPAPER: THE HINDU
MAGAZINES/JOURNALS: ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WEEKLY (ONLY FOR MAINS)
WEBSITES: prsindia.org, mea.gov.in, mrunal.org, Wikipedia.org
BOOK LIST FOR PRELIMS:
GENERAL STUDIES-I
| SERIAL NO. | TOPIC | BOOKS/NOTES/WEBSITES |
| 1 | Indian Polity | Laxmikanth, Ravindran sir’s notes, newspaper, prsindia.org |
| 2 | Indian Economy | Vajiram class notes, Shriram IAS notes, Economic Survey |
| 3 | Ancient Indian History | Old 11th standard NCERT by R.S. Sharma |
| 4 | Medieval Indian History | Old 7th standard NCERT by Romila Thapar |
| 5 | Modern Indian History | Old 12th standard NCERT by Bipin Chandra, India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra (Penguin), Spectrum-Modern India |
| 6 | Indian Culture | A.L. Basham, Spectrum, 11th standard NCERT for Fine Arts |
| 7 | World an Indian Geography | Vajiram notes (class notes and printed handouts), Vajriam Yellow Book, 11thand 12th standard NCERTs on physical geography and some units from Human geography, GC Leong, Indian and World Geography by Majid Hussain, Orient Black Swan Atlas. |
| 8 | Ecology and Environment | 12th standard NCERT, Vajiram class notes and Green Book, KBC-NANO publications book on Environment and Ecology |
| 9 | General Science | 9th and 10th NCERTs, 11th and 12thBiology NCERT, Vajiram Yellow Book for Physics |
| 10 | Science and Technology | Newspaper |
| 11 | Current Affairs | Newspaper, MEA annual report |
GENERAL STUDIES-II (CSAT) Refer to 6th-10th NCERTS, and study only relevant topics like Ratio-Proportion, Mixtures, Profit-Loss-Discount, etc. Refer to Tata McGrawhill’s book for CSAT. Study the entire book. Career Launcher worksheets for practice. BOOK LIST FOR MAINS: GENERAL STUDIES-I Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society
| SERIAL NO. | TOPIC | BOOK/NOTES/WEBSITE |
| 1 | Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times | same as prelims |
| 2 | Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues | Old 12th standard NCERT by Bipin Chandra, India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra (Penguin), Spectrum-Modern India, Spectrum-Personalities, Vision IAS notes |
| 3 | The Freedom Struggle - its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country. | Old 12th standard NCERT by Bipin Chandra, India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra (Penguin), Spectrum-Modern India |
| 4 | Post-independence consolidation and reorganization within the country | India After Gandhi by Ram Chandra Guha |
| 5 | History of the world will include events from 18thcentury such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization, political philosophies like communism, capitalism, socialism etc.- their forms and effect on the society | World History book by Arihant publications (this is not a very good book, look for alternative), World History book by Arjun Dev (Orient Blackswan Publication), Mastering World History by Norman Lowe (Macmillian), Vision IAS notes |
| 6 | Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India. | Sociology NCERT, newspaper Editorials, Oxford Handbook for Sociology, Oxford Companion for Politics in India, Vision IAS notes |
| 7 | Role of women and women's organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies | Sociology NCERT, newspaper Editorials, Oxford Handbook for Sociology, Oxford Companion for Politics in India, Vision IAS notes |
| 8 | Effects of globalization on Indian society | Sociology NCERT, newspaper Editorials, Oxford Handbook for Sociology, Oxford Companion for Politics in India, Vision IAS notes |
| 9 | Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism | Sociology NCERT, newspaper Editorials, Oxford Handbook for Sociology, Oxford Companion for Politics in India, Vision IAS notes |
| 10 | Salient features of world's physical geography | Same as prelims, Vision IAS notes |
| 11 | Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India) | Same as prelims, Vision IAS notes |
| 12 | Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes | Same as prelims, Vision IAS notes |
GENERAL STUDIES-II Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations
| SERIAL NO. | TOPIC | BOOK/NOTES/WEBSITE |
| 1 | Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure. | Laxmikanth-Indian Polity, Political Science notes |
| 2 | Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. | Laxmikanth-Indian Polity, Political Science notes, Our Political System by Subhash Kashyap |
| 3 | Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions. | Laxmikanth-Indian Polity, Political Science notes, Vision IAS notes |
| 4 | Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with that of other countries | Vision IAS notes |
| 5 | Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these | Laxmikanth-Indian Polity |
| 6 | Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity. | Laxmikanth-Indian Polity, laxmikanth-Governance |
| 7 | Salient features of the Representation of People's Act. | ROP Act, Vision IAS notes |
| 8 | Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies | Laxmikanth-Indian Polity, laxmikanth-Governance |
| 9 | Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies | Laxmikanth-Indian Polity, laxmikanth-Governance |
| 10 | Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. | India Year Book |
| 11 | Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders | Vision IAS notes |
| 12 | Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections | India Year Book, prsindia.org, Laxmikanth-Governance, newspaper, Vision IAS notes |
| 13 | Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources | Vision IAS notes |
| 14 | Issues relating to poverty and hunger. | Vision IAS notes |
| 15 | Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures. | 2nd ARC Report on e-Governance, Ethics, Vision IAS notes |
| 16 | Role of civil services in a democracy. | Vision IAS notes |
| 17 | India and its neighborhood- relations | Newspaper, MEA annual report |
| 18 | Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests | Newspaper, MEA annual report |
| 19 | Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India's interests, Indian diaspora. | Newspaper, MEA annual report, Vision IAS notes |
| 20 | Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate. | International Relations by Peu Ghosh, Vision IAS notes |
GENERAL STUDIES-III Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
| SERIAL NO. | TOPIC | BOOK/NOTES/WEBSITE |
| 1 | Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment | Oxford Companion to Indian Economy, Vision IAS notes |
| 2 | Inclusive growth and issues arising from it. | Vision IAS notes |
| 3 | Government Budgeting | Vision IAS notes |
| 4 | Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers | State of Indian Agriculture report, Vision IAS notes, research on internet |
| 5 | Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing. | Vision IAS notes, research on internet |
| 6 | Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management. | State of Indian Agriculture report, Vision IAS notes, research on internet |
| 7 | Land reforms in India | Vision IAS notes |
| 8 | Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth. | Oxford Companion to Indian Economy, Vision IAS notes |
| 9 | Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. | Oxford Companion to Indian Economy, Vision IAS notes |
| 10 | Investment models. | Vision IAS notes |
| 11 | Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. | Vision IAS notes |
| 12 | Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology | Vision IAS notes |
| 13 | Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. | Vision IAS notes |
| 14 | Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment | Vision IAS notes |
| 15 | Disaster and disaster management. | 2nd ARC report on Disaster Management, Vision IAS notes |
| 16 | Linkages between development and spread of extremism. | Development Challenges in Extremism Affected Areas-report by erstwhile Planning Commission |
| 17 | Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security. | Vision IAS notes |
| 18 | Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention | Vision IAS notes |
| 19 | Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism | Vision IAS notes |
| 20 | Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate | India Year Book, Vision IAS notes |
GENERAL STUDIES-IV Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
| SERIAL NO. | TOPIC | BOOK/NOTES/WEBSITE |
| 1 | Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships | 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes |
| 2 | Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values. | 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes |
| 3 | Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion | 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes |
| 4 | Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker-sections. | 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes |
| 5 | Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance. | 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes |
| 6 | Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world. | 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes |
| 7 | Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance. | 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes |
| 8 | Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information, sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen's Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption. | 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes |
| 9 | Case Studies on above issues | 2nd ARC report on Ethics in Governance and on Personnel Administration, Vision IAS notes |
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